Internships are a great way to gain valuable work experience, learn new skills, and explore different career paths. However, internships are not always smooth sailing. Sometimes, you may face challenges that make you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or unhappy with your internship.
But don’t worry, you are not alone. Many interns encounter difficulties during their internships, and there are ways to overcome them. In this article, we will discuss four common internship challenges and how to solve them effectively. By following these tips, you can turn your internship into a positive and rewarding experience.
Challenge #1: You are stuck with boring tasks
One of the most common complaints among interns is that they are assigned to do all the mundane and tedious tasks. You may feel that you are not learning anything useful or that your skills are not being utilized. You may also wonder why you are not given more interesting and challenging projects, like the ones you discussed with your employer during your interview.
Solution: Communicate with your employer and show initiative
The best way to deal with this challenge is to communicate directly with your supervisor. Instead of complaining about the work you are given, express your enthusiasm and interest in the company and the projects you originally applied for. For example, you can say something like:
“Hi, I really appreciate the opportunity to work here and learn more about the industry. I was wondering if I could also get involved in some of the projects we talked about during the interview, such as [Insert relevant task]. I think I have the skills and the motivation to contribute to these projects and I would love to gain more hands-on experience.”
By saying this, you are reminding your supervisor of the expectations you had when you accepted the internship, and you are showing your eagerness to learn and grow. Your employer may be impressed by your initiative and assign you more meaningful tasks. However, don’t expect to get rid of all the boring tasks right away. You may still have to do some of them as part of your internship, but you can balance them with more exciting and rewarding ones.
Challenge #2: You are not paid what you agreed on
Another common challenge that interns face is that they are not compensated according to the terms they discussed with their employer during the interview. For example, you may have agreed on a certain hourly rate, a stipend, or a reimbursement for your expenses, but you find out that you are not receiving them as promised. This can be very frustrating and demoralizing, especially if you are relying on the money to cover your living costs or tuition fees.
Solution: Address the issue as soon as possible
In this situation, it is important to bring up the issue as soon as possible. You do not want to wait too long before letting your employer know that you are not happy with your compensation. Sometimes, the problem may be due to a misunderstanding or a mistake in the system, and it can be easily fixed.
To address the issue, you need to be polite but firm. You can say something like:
“Hi, I noticed that there is a discrepancy between the compensation we agreed on during the interview and the one I received in my paycheck. I was expecting to get paid $X per hour, but I only got paid $Y. Could you please explain why this happened and how we can resolve it?”
By saying this, you are stating the facts and asking for an explanation. You are not accusing your employer of cheating you or being dishonest, but you are also not letting them get away with it. You are showing that you value your work and that you expect to be treated fairly. Most employers will respect your professionalism and try to rectify the situation as soon as possible. However, if your employer refuses to pay you what you deserve, you may have to consider quitting the internship and taking legal action.
Challenge #3: You are overwhelmed by the workload
Sometimes, the opposite of challenge #1 may happen. You may be given too much work to handle, and you may feel overwhelmed by the expectations and deadlines. You may struggle to keep up with the pace and the quality of the work, and you may feel stressed and anxious. You may also worry that you are not performing well enough or that you are disappointing your employer.
Solution: Seek help and prioritize your tasks
The first thing you need to do when you feel overwhelmed is to identify the source of your stress. Is it because you are not familiar with the work, you are not organized, you are not confident, or you are not interested? Once you know what is causing your discomfort, you can look for ways to cope with it.
One of the best ways to cope with stress is to seek help from others. You can ask for advice or guidance from someone you trust within the organization, such as a mentor, a colleague, or a supervisor. They may be able to help you understand the work better, give you feedback, or offer you support.
Another way to cope with stress is to prioritize your tasks and manage your time effectively. You can make a list of all the tasks you have to do and rank them according to their urgency and importance. You can then focus on the most critical tasks first and leave the less important ones for later. You can also break down large and complex tasks into smaller and simpler ones, and set realistic and achievable goals for yourself. By doing this, you can reduce your workload and increase your productivity.
Challenge #4: You receive little to no feedback from your supervisor
The last challenge we will discuss is the lack of feedback from your supervisor. Feedback is essential for any intern, as it helps you learn from your mistakes, improve your skills, and measure your progress. However, some supervisors may not give you enough feedback, either because they are too busy, or they don’t think it’s necessary. This can make you feel confused, insecure, or unmotivated, as you don’t know if you are doing a good job or not.
Solution: Ask for feedback and evaluate yourself
The best way to deal with this challenge is to ask for feedback proactively. You can request regular meetings with your supervisor, where you can discuss your work, your goals, and your performance. You can also ask specific questions about your strengths, weaknesses, areas of improvement, and expectations. For example, you can say something like:
“Hi, I would like to get some feedback on my work. How do you think I did on the last project? What did I do well and what can I do better? What are some of the skills or knowledge that I need to develop further? What are some of the goals that you have for me in the next few weeks?”
By asking for feedback, you are showing your interest and enthusiasm in your work and your learning. You are also giving your supervisor a chance to share their opinions and suggestions with you. Most supervisors will appreciate your initiative and be willing to give you honest and constructive feedback.
Another way to deal with this challenge is to evaluate yourself. You can reflect on your work and your performance, and identify your own strengths, weaknesses, areas of improvement, and goals. You can also seek feedback from other sources, such as your peers, your clients, or your mentors. By doing this, you can gain more insight into your work and your progress, and you can also boost your confidence and motivation.
Conclusion
Internships are not always easy, but they are definitely worth it. Internships can help you gain valuable work experience, learn new skills, and explore different career paths.
However, internships can also come with challenges that can make you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or unhappy. By following these tips, you can overcome any difficulties you may face during your internship and turn it into a positive and rewarding experience.
